Juanita Mae Meadows

Juanita Mae Meadows passed away on September 17, 2014. She was 96.

Juanita was born on September 6, 1918 to Claro Tinser Brown and Mary Marie Halstead Brown of Huntington, West Virginia. She is preceded in death by her parents; her brother Harold Brown; Alvin C. Meadows, her former husband of 20 years; and her grandmother Liza Brown, who raised her. She is also preceded in death by James T. Sullivan, her friend and companion of many years.

While living in West Virginia, Juanita graduated from Huntington High School and was an Honors Society student. Later in her marriage she attended two years of Business College in Charleston, West Virginia. In 1958 she took her new skills and her children and moved to San Diego, California. There she worked many years as a secretary. Her last position was with Scripps Institute of Oceanography University of California San Diego. She was the director’s (Charles Merdinger) executive secretary. From this position she retired. She then volunteered at the Terra Santa Public Library in San Diego.

Juanita was a member of two dance clubs and 1918 group (San Diego) which is a national organization for those born in 1918. She loved to dance, play golf, read, play cards, swim, travel, exercise and spend time with family and friends. In her younger days, she was a Red Cross swimming instructor and a dental assistant.

Her family and friends will always remember her for her smile, her laugh, and her gentle and kind nature and the stylish way she dressed. Her inner beauty would always shine through.

She is survived by her son, David Lee Meadows of Sun City West, Arizona; two daughters Marietta (Ken) Langford of Portland, Texas, and Carole Sue (Joe) Pontelandolfo of Sun City West, Arizona; two granddaughters Terri L. Langford of Austin, Texas, and Anastasia L. Langford (Aaron Dick) of Dallas, Texas; and great-grandchildren Michaela Quin Langford and Aidan Rhys Langford of Dallas, Texas

The family would like to extend their gratitude and appreciation to the Carriage Inn staff for their support and kindness, to the staff of Nurses  on Wheels (Hospice) and daily care givers; Mary Jane Abrego, Andrea Clements, Angie Flores, and Ida Salinas. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice or to the First Methodist Church’s Columbarium Fund in Portland.

A celebration of Juanita’s life will be held on Sunday, October 26^th at 2:30 p.m. at the Carriage Inn in Portland, Texas.